Tarot cards have been around for hundreds of years. There are various theories of how and why they work, but no one really knows. I think they’re just a focal point, or sign posts indicating direction. The real information comes through the reader and the person asking the question (the querent).

There are 78 cards in a 'traditional' Tarot deck. They are divided into two categories, called arcana (meaning secrets); 22 major and 56 minor arcana. Our modern playing cards are derived from the minor arcana. Cups became hearts. Swords became spades. Pentacles became diamonds; and rods became clubs. Knights became jacks, and pages disappeared.

Each card has a meaning that you can look up in books or on line, but the real meaning comes from intuitive interpretation in the context of the layout. So, the meanings change and can be very personal. I had a friend who ‘programmed’ her cards. For instance, she assigned the meaning of Attorney to the Justice card. So, when that card showed up in a spread, it meant a Lawyer was involved. You won’t find that meaning in any book.​